Great Britain one rubber away from winning first Davis Cup world group match
for almost 30 years after James Ward and Andy Murray both beat USA opponents
in opening singles

A tumultuous victory for James Ward completed the perfect first day for Britain’s Davis Cup team in San Diego, where Leon Smith’s men went a long way towards securing their first victory in the world group for almost 30 years.

If Andy Murray played the outstanding tennis of the day, demolishing Davis Cup debutant Donald Young in just 97 minutes, it is Ward and Smith who can truly bask in the appreciation of the travelling British fans.

Ward started woefully in his singles match against Sam Querrey, the American No 1 in the absence of the injured John Isner, botching groundstrokes in all direction. But what spirit he showed to turn it around, growing in confidence until he was completely dominant in the final set of a 1-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory.

As for Smith, he made the critical call here by choosing Ward for the second singles spot rather than the fast-emerging 19-year-old Kyle Edmund, who had won a Futures tournament on clay a fortnight ago. Ward had won just a single competitive match all season coming into this tie, but he reprised his 2011 victory over Querrey, the world No 49, in fine style.

It would be wrong to suggest that the tie is effectively over, but Great Britain’s prospects have changed radically. They came to San Diego as long shots, then became outside contenders after Isner’s withdrawal with an ankle injury on Thursday. Now they lead 2-0 and need only a single point from the three remaining rubbers to clinch the tie. With Murray in splendid form and full fitness, it would take a dramatic change of fortune to deny them.

Ward is such a difficult man to predict. His results in Challenger and Futures tournaments often seem to be all or nothing, and he can suddenly reel off results like the semi-final he reached at Queen’s Club in 2011. Here he was under pressure for most of the match, saving a succession of break points, only to burst through when Querrey succumbed to the pressure late in the fourth set.

Everyone in the British team is clearly thriving on the fact that they are here in San Diego, playing with the big boys in the winter sunshine of southern California, where three years ago they had been scrapping against Turkey in a relegation play-off.

“I think it’s exciting for everyone,” said Murray after his match. “We were talking a bit about it last night. When Leon [Smith] took over as captain we were playing in Eastbourne to maybe go into Division Three. It’s a different mindset being in the main competition and being able to actually win it.”

This is the first home tie the USA have chosen to play on clay for more than 20 years, and after the opening day it was tempting to ask whether they have made the right decision.

The American team captain Jim Courier had hoped that Isner – the world No. 13 and a proficient dirtballer – would be able to lead the team. But his absence brought in the unpredictable Young. A slightly built left-hander ranked No 79 in the world, he likes to come forward, and has more touch in his hands than power in his groundstrokes. As the USA’s answer to our own Dan Evans, he would surely have preferred a slick hard court.

While Young might have been paralysed by nerves, for the first set at least, you had to admire Murray’s ruthlessness as he dictated rally after rally and won more than 60 per cent of the points – a massive proportion by the standards of professional tennis.

For a man who has never been at his best on clay courts, it was a hugely encouraging display. “On weekends like this, you want to try and conserve as much energy as possible,” said Murray afterwards. “If you play all three days it’s challenging, so it’s good to have won in three sets.”

Young could not handle Murray’s accuracy and authority, despite enthusiastic support from the 4,000-odd fans at Petco Park and pep talks from Courier, whose natty grey suit made him resemble one of the Premier League’s more elegant continental managers.